Medicaid viewed as a 'sacrificial lamb'

Congress won't touch Medicare in order to cut deficit spending. But the Medicaid program was looking more vulnerable at press time.

“There has been an unsettling silence around Medicaid — even from members of my own party,” said Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). “Medicaid suddenly looks like the sacrificial lamb.”

Rockefeller has lined up 41 Senate Democrats who are willing to filibuster against any Medicaid funding reductions.
That's a sharp contrast from a proposal approved by House Republicans that calls for more than $700 billion in Medicaid cuts, largely by converting federal funds into block grants for states.

“[Those] who receive services covered by Medicaid are the frailest and most financially vulnerable,” said Larry Minnix, president and CEO of LeadingAge. “Their needs will not disappear if they or the services they receive are cut from Medicaid.”